144 STRAIT OP PATIENTIA. [1844. 



Heard, he was despatched by him to relieve my mind, 

 but although her crew had been constantly engaged 

 under oars, and with trifling intermission since the pre- 

 vious noon, and had just put forth their energies to the 

 utmost, under a broiling sun, they begged so hard to be 

 allowed to rejoin their companions, for the sake of 

 avenging my misfortune, that I consented. The same 

 may be said of the crew of the second barge ; indeed, 

 but one feeling appeared to animate Officers and crew. 

 After sunset Lieut. Heard, and the division returned 

 without accident,* and with a light air we began at 

 length to make some progress towards the Strait of 

 Patientia. 



To what this strait owes its name I am at a loss to 

 conjecture ; if, however, it is from the fact of being a very 

 tedious navigation, trying both to mind and body, and 

 calling for perseverence, it certainly deserves the appella- 

 tion. During our beat through, we were compelled to anchor 

 to avoid being driven upon a reef, and in weighing, broke 

 the stock of our pet anchor, one of 13 cwt., by Porter, 

 which we had hitherto used in preference to the cus- 

 tomary heavy bower of 30 cwt. In proof of our estima- 

 tion of its qualities, I may safely say, that no particular 

 regret would have been expressed for any other piece of 

 iron in the ship, but this had so often performed its duty 

 in times of need, and proved itself so trustworthy, that 

 its loss, by merely this accident to the stock, was felt and 

 reported to me with due solemnity, low as I was in my 

 cot. Before reaching the southern end of the strait, we 

 fell in with a schooner, under Dutch colours, endea- 

 * Fide Appendix. 



